LITTER louts as young as ten face £40 on-the-spot fines under new council proposals.

Town Hall bosses want to hit youngsters’ pockets in a bid to stamp out the next generation of litterbugs.

Council enforcement officers will hand fixed penalty notices out to children while patrolling the borough’s streets if new powers are approved by cabinet next month.

Combining community service and even an "apology" from a parent in the punishment is also being considered.

But there are fears that far from educating parents as is hoped, the fines – many times more than most youngsters’ pocket money – will lead to anger directed at children from families already struggling financially.

Bev Statom-Barnett of Lacey Green Youth Club said: "I can’t see this proposal working. It’s a good idea in theory because it would help to deter young litter bugs and make them realise that it’s not right to drop litter in the streets, but I just can’t imagine how it’s going to be policed."

Rob Wardle, who runs the Cre8 youth project in Macclesfield, said: "I fear a ten-year-old is going to get a whack around the ear because they are costing their parents more money and they are not always that understanding in some of the families we deal with.

He said younger children should be given a warning first.

Mother-of-one Jenny Amanis, 20, called the proposal "stupid".

"How are they going to pay it?" she said. "It would be down to the parent and unfortunately we don’t know what they are doing when they are out of our sight."

Her, brother Tom, 11, said: "I littered once and I got told off.

"I know it is wrong and I have known for ages."

He gets pocket money when he is good and admitted that paying a £40 fine would also take "ages".

Paul Morgan, Streetscene corporate manager charged with introducing the scheme, said: "I was certainly taught that littering was the wrong thing to do before the age of ten and we need to get to all members of the community.

"Around schools, particularly at lunchtimes there are littering hotspots around shopping parades for example.

"We have very clean and tidy streets but they could be cleaner and tidier."

No new staff are being hired and the existing ten-strong environmental enforcement team will add the patrols to duties tackling fly-tippers and advising residents.

Councillor Roger West, the council’s cabinet member for Streetscene, said: "My observation is that youngsters are some of the biggest perpetrators of littering.

"It is about discipline. From ten-years-old they know what they are doing is wrong."

A spokeswoman for civil rights group Liberty said: "What happens if they do not pay – do we really want to start criminalising children and their parents because a child drops litter?

"Many families may not be able to afford to pay."

If the powers are passed by cabinet on August 20, ten to 15-year-olds will be fined £40 (£30 if paid within 14 days), 16 and 17-year-olds £75 (£56 within 14 days) and adults £80 (£60 within 14 days).

The policy would be rolled out as part of MBC’s environmental quality strategy in October.

Macclesfield would not be the first council to fine ten-year-olds for littering. Bolton and Easington in County Durham are among those already doing so.